The air was coated in a tension beyond anything I had ever felt before; the presence of danger looming over our heads was heavier than the newborn army coming for the Cullens back in June.

So much has happened in two months...

Carlisle and Esme lingering in the foyer pulled me out of my thoughts, their faces full of concern for their family as they whispered to each other. Pressing his lips to her forehead, Carlisle opened the front door and watched as Esme disappeared from sight. He clicked the door shut behind her and turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes shifted to the living room, to the couch where Bella was snoring softly. Noticing that I was watching him, Carlisle slowly walked into the room.

"Esme's going to hunt, not too far away." He murmured as he approached me. "How are you holding up?"

"I think I'm okay." I shifted into a more comfortable sitting position, pulling the blanket closer to my chin as I tugged it over my shoulders. "There's ice still in the pit of my stomach, like something's happened or is going to happen soon. I can't tell... but I think it's something to do with Jacob."

"I'm sure he's okay." Carlisle reassured me.

I gave him a weak smile before shifting my gaze to the doorway behind us. Alice hovered inside the frame, her eyes nervously darting around the room.

"Do you hear that?" She asked, her tone shaking as if she was spooked.

No sooner than the words left her tongue, another sharp stab engulfed me; only this time, it wasn't pain flowing through my body. It felt more like... power. Freedom. I raised my head to meet Edward's surprised expression just as the noise Alice asked about reached our ears.

Wolf howls from La Push. Filled with urgency, almost in agony. Broken, as if calling out to a lost loved one.

It was haunting and beautiful at the same time.

I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds, steadying my breathing as I used my magic to feel Jacob. Running through the green forest, claws digging into the dirt to gain traction; his paws hitting the ground in a rhythm that faintly reminded me of a drum. The scene around him was familiar, almost flashing before my eyes like a movie rewinding until a light bulb clicked inside my head.

Jacob was on his way back to us.

"He did it." I whispered as the realization of his situation dawned on me. "He really did it."

"What happened, Autumn?" Edward was kneeling beside me on the floor, his eyes searching my face.

"He opposed Sam... claimed what's rightfully his." I mumbled as the rest of the Cullens listened carefully, nobody moving as my words sank in. "Jacob's claimed his Alpha status."

"What does this mean for the pack?" Emmett asked, raising an eyebrow. "There can't be two alphas, right?"

"It means... Jacob doesn't have a pack. Unless you count me." I trailed off, feeling a pull in my magic. "Wait a second.... oh. Oh! OH!"

Edward shifted to peer out the window briefly before darting out of the room. With a glance in my direction, Emmett and Jasper followed when I nodded frantically, throwing the blanket off of me.

"What is it?" Carlisle rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Seth left Sam's pack... so Jacob has a pack now. And they're both outside." I clambered to my feet and ran to the porch, coming to a stop when I saw Emmett and Jasper crouched defensively a few feet away.

"Em, Jazz - not them! The others." Edward said exasperatedly. "The pack is coming."

"They're coming for Bella." I said, causing the guys to turn around and face me. Jacob dipped his head in agreement, and a snarl ripped from my throat. "Over my dead body!"

"Emmett, go get the others. Tell Carlisle to call Esme back..." Edward glanced at Jacob, who whined anxiously. "She's not far, Jake. Don't worry."

A few moments of silence passed as Jacob and Seth shared a look, earning a worried glance from Edward.

"Will you be in danger, Seth?"

I focused my magic on the wolves, allowing my mind to be connected to theirs, just in time to hear Jacob's thoughts.

Maybe I should go too. Just in case...

They'll be less likely to challenge me. I'm just a kid to them, Seth pointed out.

You're just a kid to me too, kid.

"Seth will be fine to run a perimeter by himself. Besides, if he needs help, he knows a good witch." I smiled at Seth as I cut Jacob off from making another smart comment. "Go, Seth. Keep an eye out for any signs of trouble, okay?"

He nodded once before darting away, disappearing into the darkness. I knew Jacob wasn't going to order him around the way Sam had, so he watched Seth go. Jasper was on alert, watching the space Seth had just vacated while Emmett muttered into his phone a few feet away; Jacob and Edward were in a silent eye-lock, their breathing uneven from the anxiety weighing over our current situation. A few more moments passed before Alice flitted out to the porch; taking in the scene in front of her, she made her way to Jasper's side, her face just as worried as the rest of us.

"What's going on?" Alice asked, glancing between Edward and Jacob. "Jacob, would you mind switching forms?"

"He needs to stay linked to Seth," Edward answered at the same time Jacob shook his head. "The pack thinks Bella has become a problem... the potential danger from the... from what she's carrying."

"The baby." I glared at Edward. "The pack thinks there's potential danger from the baby."

"They feel... it's their duty to remove that danger. Jacob, and then Seth, broke away from the pack to warn us that the rest are planning to attack. Tonight." Edward sighed.

Alice hissed in response, her eyes hardening as her stance went into defensive mode. Emmett and Jasper exchanged a sideways glance before returning their gazes to the treeline.

"How's Seth?" I directed to Jacob, filling the silence. He dipped his head low to the ground, his brown eyes softening as he gazed at me.

Kid's good. It's quiet, he's running another perimeter.

"Do you think...?"

Jacob shook his head as my voice trailed off, the question lingering in my mind.

Honestly, I don't think Sam will lead an attack any time soon. I could be wrong, though.

"Well, we will be ready either way." I said as I rubbed between my left shoulder and my neck.

Jacob whined softly as he noticed the grimace on my face.

"I'm okay. It's just a knot." I gave him a weak smile. "Must've slept on my shoulder wrong last night."

"We have an ice pack in the freezer," Alice offered. "Esme insisted on having certain things here for you and Bella, and Carlisle agreed."

"Thanks, Alice. I'd love that."

With a brief nod, Alice darted back into the house. Emmett and Jasper exchanged another wary glance before resuming their scan of the trees around the house.

Nobody out here, Seth reported. The western front is quiet.

They may go around, Jacob answered him.

I'll go make a loop.

"Carlisle and Esme are on their way. Twenty minutes, tops." Emmett grumbled.

"We should take up a defensive position," Jasper said, his eyes locked on the horizon.

"Let's head inside." Edward nodded. "Autumn?"

"I'll be there in a minute. I'd like to talk to Jacob."

Then I'll go run perimeter with Seth. If we get too far away for you to hear my thoughts, listen for my howl.

"I will," Edward said darkly before following his brothers inside.

I waited a few seconds after the door swung shut behind him before turning back to Jacob.

"So, Alpha huh?"

Yeah... it's gonna take some time getting used to that.

"I'm really proud of you, Jake. Just so you know... with your history with Bella and werewolves' natural enemies being vampires... it means a lot that you chose to do this. Not only to Bella and the Cullens, but me too."

Jacob lowered his head in response, his eyes shifting in a way that made me know he was blushing, even in wolf form.

"Go check on Seth. We can talk about your Alpha status later." I smiled at the wolf staring at me. "I love you, Jake. Be careful out there."

I love you too, Leaf. Always.

In the blink of an eye, Jacob has disappeared into the woods, his echoing footsteps fading into the evening. Sighing to myself, I slowly wandered into the house and headed straight for the living room where I knew everyone else would be. Alice met me in the hallway and silently handed me the ice pack wrapped in a hand towel before claiming a chair by the window as her perch, Jasper hovering nearby.

Nobody spoke out loud as Rosalie tended to Bella, making sure the blanket on her lap was covering her body. The front door clicked open and a few seconds later, Carlisle and Esme appeared, both relieved to see their children were okay.

About fifteen minutes later, the silence was broken by howls. The air in the room shifted into a tensed alert, each vampire still as they waited. Edward flashed over to the window to check outside before he bolted out to the porch. I could hear Jacob's thoughts like a soft whisper in the back of my mind as he ran closer to the house. I heard him more clearly at the same time he reached Edward.

False alarm - Seth forgot you were listening for our howls. Nobody's attacking. Got that?

I met Carlisle's worried eyes and shook my head, letting my body sink back into the sofa in relief. I knew would do anything to protect Bella and the baby, but the thought of fighting the wolves made my heart hurt. Despite the split, they were still my family. Jacob's family.

"It was a false alarm," Edward said as he came back into the room. "Seth was upset about something else and forgot we were listening for a signal. He's very young."

"Nice to have toddlers guarding the fort," Emmett snickered.

"They've done us a great service tonight, Em. At a personal sacrifice," Carlisle scolded gently.

"I know." Emmett sighed. "I'm just jealous. I wish I was out there."

"Seth doesn't think Sam will attack tonight. Especially since they're lacking two members, and with you on alert." I said, wrapping my arms around my legs as I pulled them into my chest, careful not to disturb Bella on the other end of the couch.

"What does Jacob think?" Carlisle asked me.

"He's not so sure. It could go either way."

The truth behind my words seemed to have struck a nerve because everyone jumped when Bella choked a little in her sleep, sending Edward and Rosalie in a frenzy to move closer to her. Bella's body jerked, causing her to whimper; Rosalie gently brushed her hand against Bella's forehead, soothing her almost instantly. Edward's body stiffened and the look on his face must have been murderous because Emmett quickly stepped between them holding his hands up to his brother. Edward turned away after a beat, the burning man from earlier today returning to his eyes, but it was enough for me to feel acid burning my throat as my stomach churned threateningly.

Bella was getting worse.